Method and apparatus for manufacturing cord



April 1955 J. K. FRANCIS 2,741,149

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING CORD Filed Oct. 29 1951 INVEN TOR. Mai/2 F/wm 0/5 /7//0/ Way United States Patent METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING CORD John K. Francis, Grand Rapids, Mich, assignorto Sackner Products, Inc, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Application October 29,1951, Serial No. 253,624 6 Claims. (Cl.- 87-4) This invention relates to improvements in method and apparatus for manufacturing cord.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a method of making packing cord, beading cord, edge rolls and the like which enables the very rapid and economical production of a satisfactory product of this character and consisting of a cellulose fibre body, a wrapping consisting of strands braided'into' open mesh on the body, and a strip ofadhesive extending longitudinally of the body in overlying crossing relation to the strands.

Second, to provide an apparatus for practicing the aforesaid method which is comparatively simple and capable of high production and results in a very uniform product.

Objects relating to details and economiesofthe invention willappear from the descriptionv to follow. The invention is pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment'of'the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is'a fragmentary elevational view of an apparatusembodying my invention adapted: for the practicing Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective. view of theproductof my method and apparatus.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of one of the wrapping strands.

The method and apparatus of this invention are adapted for the production of packing cord, beading cord, edge rolls and the like, the subject matter of my copending application for Letters Patent Serial Number 251,615, filed October 16, 1951, and now Patent No. 2,722,861, which issued November 8, 1955. In the accompanying drawing I have illustrated an apparatus suitable for the commercial practice of my method, certain parts being shown conventionally as the details thereof form no part of this invention.

In the accompanying drawing, 1 (Fig. 3) represents the completed product, 2 represents a strip of cellulose fibre stock desirably creped cellulose tissue, and 3 a roll thereof mounted upon the spindle 4. The structure 1 comprises a body 5 formed by crumpling and compressing the strip 2 into an elongated body of substantially uniform section and of substantial resilience, and Wrapping strands 6 which are braided upon the formed body into an open mesh as shown in Fig. 3 with the strands extending spirally around the body. The strands 6 are in the preferred embodiment of glass fibres impregnated and coated with wax, desirably a microcrystalline wax, and they are of generally flattened cross section as shown in Fig. 4. As stated, this structure is the subject matter of my copending application.

The braiding machine designated generally by the numeral 7 crumples and conforms the strip 2 into the body 5 of substantially uniform section and substantial "ice resilience: This results, iirthe machine illustrated, from drawingthe material Ithrough an eye 8. The'wrapping strands6 are conventionally shown in Fig. 1 and are drawn from spools or bobbins 9- which are desirablyv driven to braid the" strands upon the body as is shown in Fig. 3" and as is conventionally; illustrated in'Fig. 1. As braiding machines of'tliis' type are known in' the art I donot illustrate or describe the same' infurther detail' herein.

Y The braided body designated 10 in-Fig. l is rove'or passed around the pulley 11, preferably in at least one complete wrap. This pulley is supported by'a bracket 12 carried'by the posts 13 and 14' on the braidingmachine. The finished producthas a strip of flexible adliesive' extending longitudinally of the bodyand'across the strands thereon and contacting'th'e body ateach sideof the strands. This adhesive in the machine illustrated for the practicing-of my method is applied by means of an adhesive applying roller 16journaled at 17 and dipping into the adhesive fountain 18'. The roller is disposed'in opposed-relation to the pulley, and engages the wrapped body 10 with such pressure as to result'in the driving of theroller' and to insure the-deposit of a substantially uniform stripof adhesive. The adhesive is of a fi exible-nontacley type and desirably quick drying sothat the cordor'rollmay be-directly Wound upon the-spool or reel 19 which is desirably-driven, the drivingmeansnot being illustrated;

Thestrands are desirably tensioned as" to substantially embed them in the surface body'as is shown in Fig. 2. The fiat sectioned 'strands facilitate'this' and result in a productwhich is substantially smooth.

The spoolsor' reels 19- are'. desirably those on whic'h' the product is merchandised; The: longitudinally extendedi adhesive strip prevents substantial and objection-v able unraveling ofthe wrapping strandsiwhen, the. ma terial is:- cutiinto sectionsz for use... 1am. aware. that adhesive has: been: applied to. cotton: thread or yarn; wrap, ping strands before they are braidediasdisclosed inthe Sackner- Ratent. 2,250,776,. July, 29, 19.41; This;, however, is relatively; GXPCHSiVGZSuCOmPQI'Cd to the applicants product and method and requireswfrequent cleaning of'the. machine and of the surroundings of the machine.

The glass fibre strands impregnated with wax are desirable as they are strong as compared to cotton thread or yarn. The impregnating of the glass fibres with wax, preferably microcrystalline wax, is an important factor in the strength of such strands. It is not practical to apply adhesive to such strands as has been done with cotton thread or yarn strands because the adhesive does not efiectively adhere thereto. However, by applying the strip of adhesive over the strands they are connected to the body.

I have illustrated and described one practical apparatus for the practicing of my method. I have not attempted to illustrate and describe other apparatus which I contemplate might be used as I believe this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my invention as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. The method of making packing cord, beading cord, edge rolls and the like, comprising the steps of longitudinally translating elongated strips of cellulose and crumpling and forming the strips so translated into a body of substantially uniform section and of substantial resilience, longitudinally translating the formed body at the speed at which the same is formed and under longitudinal tension and while the formed body is being so translated braiding a plurality of strands into an open mesh thereon and substantially embedding the strands in the body, each strand being composed of a plurality of glass fibers and being impregnated with a flexible binding material, and after the braiding of the strands upon the body and while it is being so translated applying a relatively narrow substantially straight strip of flexible adhesive to the surface of and extending longitudinally of the body and across the strands braided thereon and T contacting the body at each side of the strands, thereby securing the body encircling wraps of the strands to the body and maintaining their spaced relation thereon.

2. The method of making packing cord, beading cord, edge rolls and the like comprising the steps of longitudinally translating elongated strips of cellulose and crumpling and forming the strips so translated into a body of substantially uniform section and of substantial resilience, longitudinally translating the formed body at the speed at which the same is formed and under longitudinal tension and while the formed body is being so translated braiding a plurality of strands into an open mesh thereon, and after the braiding of the strands upon the body and while it is being so translated applying a relatively narrow substantially straight strip of flexible adhesive to the surface of and extending longitudinally of the body and across the strands braided thereon and contacting the body at each side of the strands, thereby securing the body encircling wraps of the strands to the body and maintaining their spaced relation thereon.

3. The method of making packing cord, beading cord, edge rolls and the like comprising the steps of crumpling and compressing longitudinally translated strips to form an' elongated longitudinally translated body of substantially uniform section and of substantial resilience, and while the elongated body is being translated braiding strands into an open mesh wrapping thereon, the strands extending spirally thereof and embedded in the surface of the body, and successively with the braiding of the strands and while the strand wrapped body is being translated after the braiding applying a relatively narrow substantially straight strip of flexible adhesive to the surface of and extending longitudinally of the body and across the wrapping strands and contacting the body at each side of the strands, whereby the several body encircling wraps of the strands are connected to the body by the adhesive strip.

4. The method of making packing cord, beading cord,

edge rolls and the like comprising the steps of forming an elongated body of compacted resilient material and of substantially uniform section and translating the same under longitudinal tension as it is formed, and while so translating it braiding a plurality of strands into an open mesh thereon with each strand extending spirally around the body, and thereafter and while the braided body is being so translated applying a relatively narrow substantially straight strip of non-tacky and flexible adhesive to the surface of and extending longitudinally of the body and across the wrapping strands in contacting relation with the body at the sides of the strands and connecting each spiral wrap of the strands to the body.

5. An apparatus for applying adhesive strips to a cord having a resilient elongated body of fibrous material and having a plurality of" strands braided spirally thereon, said strands providing an open mesh wrap upon the body, said apparatus comprising a pulley around which the braided body is passed in at least one complete wrap, the pulley having a circumferential groove receiving said wrapped body, an adhesive applying roller disposed in opposed relation to the pulley for contacting driving engagement with the wrapped body on the pulley, and an adhesive supply fountain for the roller whereby a continuous longitudinal strip of adhesive is applied to the wrapped body crossing the wrapping strands thereon and V with the wrapped body on the pulley.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,321,421 Delany Nov. 11, 1919. 1,638,254 Freydberg et al Aug. 9, 1927 7 2,107,467 Buhler Feb. 8, 1938 2,250,776 Sackner July 29, 1 941 2,319,019 Van Court May 11, 1943 2,442,335 Bauer June 1, 1948 2,478,940 Pape Aug. 16, 1949 2,557,343 Cook June 19, 1951 2,592,632 Williamson Apr. 15, 1952 

